Baby On Her Doorstep

Chapter Two

Laura had been trying for the last thirty minutes to persuade Mrs. Potter to let her keep Hope at the boardinghouse.

The older woman touched a strand of Hope’s hair. “I’m sorry, Laura, but even as sweet as she is, I can’t have a small child living here.”

“I understand. I’m paid to the end of the week. Can we stay until then? I need time to find another place to live.” Laura watched as Hope silently played with a ball of yarn that Mrs. Potter had pulled from her knitting basket for her. She calculated the amount of money she’d saved from teaching and knew it wasn’t enough to buy a house. Perhaps someone would have one she could rent, although Laura doubted it.

“Yes, but no longer. I don’t mean to be hard-hearted, but I’ll need to rent your room out as quickly as possible.” She returned to her knitting.

Laura picked up Hope. The child had played silently at their feet. It worried Laura that Hope hadn’t asked for her ma or even attempted to communicate since she’d woken from her nap. “Thank you.” She carried Hope up to her room.

She’d lived at the boardinghouse for four years. After Charles had died, Laura tried to make their little farm her home but without him selling cotton, she’d had no income to pay the land payment. She’d been forced to return the farm to the bank and take the teaching job in town.

Her gaze moved about the small space she now called home. When she’d moved in, Laura had sewn new curtains for the windows, added a colorful quilt to the bed and braided a nice-looking rug for the floor. Pretty dollies lay on the dresser and side table. Her writing desk rested under the window. Laura had created many lesson plans there. Laura sighed, aware of just how much she was going to miss this room.

Hope laid her head on Laura’s shoulder. The little girl still clutched the yarn ball in her tiny hand. Her stomach growled loud enough for Laura to hear it. “Oh, my! I think there is a bear in your tummy,” she teased the little girl. Hope raised her head and grinned. She pointed to her mouth, indicating she was hungry.

Laura frowned. “Can you say you’re hungry?”

Hope pointed to her mouth again and smiled as if pleased that she’d done as Laura had asked.

She sat the little girl on the bed. “We’ll go to Pearl’s restaurant for lunch. Do you want to go eat?”

Hope continued playing with the ball.

Laura sighed. Hope hadn’t heard her. She feared the child couldn’t hear. She folded Hope’s blanket and set it on the chair. Then she pulled a small shawl from the closet and wrapped it about Hope. “Come on, sweetie. We are going to lunch and then go to see Dr. Stewart.”

She picked up Hope and headed down the stairs. The little girl held tightly to her yarn ball. Laura heard Mrs. Potter in the entryway speaking in low tones to a man. His voice carried up the stairs that she was swiftly descending.

Laura bitterly thought that the older woman was probably interviewing someone to take her room. She continued down the steps. Worry ate at her. Where was she going to find another place to live? She had money tucked away, but there wasn’t enough there to purchase a small house. Maybe in another year she’d have enough, but not today. Perhaps the bank held a small farm house that she could rent.

As she stepped off the bottom stair, Mrs. Potter and the man turned to face her. Laura paused. Wasn’t this the gentleman who’d arrived at the sheriff’s office just as she’d been leaving?

“Oh, good. I won’t have to send for you, Mrs. Lee. This gentleman has asked to see you.” Mrs. Potter glanced from her to the man waiting.

“Thank you, Mrs. Potter.” She turned to look at him. Did he know something about Hope? Who she belonged to? Had he come to claim Hope as part of his family?

A little girl stood beside him, holding his pinky finger in her small hand. Big brown eyes looked from her to Hope. She tugged at his hand and chattered something, but the language was baby gibberish.

He smiled at the child. “I don’t know, Grace. You’ll have to ask Mrs. Lee.” Dark brown eyes rose and met hers.

He’d understood what the little girl had said?

Hope began pushing away from Laura, trying to get down to Grace. Laura hung on to her tighter. She jiggled the child against her hip to get her attention and then looking her in the eyes, said, “Hope, be still.” Her tone was that of a schoolteacher.

The child immediately stopped and laid her head on Laura’s shoulder. Laura rubbed her small back. Hope seemed to be a well-behaved child.

The handsome man nodded. “That’s a nice trick, Mrs. Lee. Maybe you could teach it to me someday.”

Laura frowned. “You seem to know me, sir, but I don’t know you.” She’d seen him around town before today, but they had never spoken. Had someone pointed her out to him?

Mrs. Potter’s head swung from one to the other. Laura wanted to ask her to leave but at the same time was happy that she’d stayed. This man was a stranger to her and yet knew her name.

He stepped forward with his free hand extended. “I’m sorry. I’m Clint Shepard. I’m looking for a nanny for Grace here, and the sheriff suggested you.”

Laura shook his hand, just as she would one of her students’ fathers. She tilted her head and gazed at Mr. Shepard. Was he the answer to her prayers? The sheriff wouldn’t have sent a dangerous man to look for her, if he didn’t think Mr. Shepard could help her with her current situation.

“If you are interested, it would mean moving out to my ranch.” He shifted his booted feet as if wanting to leave and yet knowing he needed to stay.

She indicated the bench that rested against the wall beside the stairs. “Perhaps you’d like to explain what you are offering, Mr. Shepard.” Laura sat Hope down.

Hope waited until Mr. Shepard had sat down and then toddled over to the other little girl who stood in front of her father.

He took a deep breath and then blurted, “I have a housekeeper and cook, but she refuses to take on the care of my daughter, Grace, too. So, if you will take the job, you’ll need to move out to the ranch. You and your little girl will be given a room next to Grace’s, and I will make sure that you make more than what you do now as a teacher.”

Did he know that she made forty dollars a month as a schoolteacher? “Do you have any idea what this town pays a schoolteacher, Mr. Shepard?”

He grinned and nodded. Grace jabbered something to him, while tugging at his leg. Clint reached down and touched the top of her head. “We’ll go in a moment, Grace.”

Laura needed the money. If she could work until planting season was over and school started back, maybe she’d make enough money to buy a house in town or at least rent something. “How much more are we talking?”

His head came up and a look of hope entered his eyes. “I’ll double what they are paying you.”

She swallowed. “Mr. Shepard. I have no desire to give up my teaching position. As you are aware, school is closed for the summer until the end of the harvest, but as soon as harvest is over, I’ll resume my job.” For some reason, Laura found herself sharing more than she normally would. “My goal is to obtain a house for myself and Hope by that time.”

Clint nodded. “I see. What if I promise to help you look for a house and you work for me until school resumes?”

Laura’s gaze moved to the two little girls who were sitting on the floor at their feet. Grace’s small voice was speaking in low tones to Hope. Hope sucked her thumb and nodded as if in agreement with Grace. Would Hope become attached to Grace, if she took the job and moved to the ranch? Or worse, would she?

* * *

Clint held his breath while he waited for Mrs. Lee to make up her mind. If she accepted his proposal, he’d have to find another nanny to replace her, but at least he wouldn’t be rushed, like he was right now.

“My board is paid until the end of the week here. I’d like to pray about it.” Laura studied the children at their feet.

He nodded. “I realize you need the time, but I also have a ranch to run. I’d planned on staying in town until tomorrow, and even though I’d love to give you the extra days, I really can’t stay longer than that.”

“I’ll have an answer for you in the morning. Is that satisfactory?” Laura asked.

He heard the schoolteacher tone in her voice. If he didn’t miss his guess, Clint was pretty sure it didn’t matter if it was agreeable to him or not, she’d not have a solid answer until then. Clint turned his attention to the boardinghouse owner, put on his most charming smile and asked, “Would it be possible for me to rent a room for the night?”

The older woman frowned. “I don’t normally allow children to live here, Mr. Shepard.”

His mind raced. Where else could he rent a room? The hotel was still in the process of being built, so that wasn’t an option. He looked down at Grace. Why hadn’t he considered that the boardinghouse wouldn’t accept children? Since he’d never had need to stay overnight in town before, he’d not considered that the boardinghouse might be full or not have room for children within its walls.

Mrs. Potter sighed and looked down at the two children. “I suppose one night won’t hurt, but I’ll not allow it again.” Mrs. Potter gave him a stern look.

“Thank you. I promise I’ll keep Grace as quiet as I possibly can.” Clint looked down at his chattering daughter and wondered if he’d be able to keep that promise.

Grace prattled up at him and pointed to Hope. Hope pointed to her heart-shaped mouth and pointed inside. It was obvious his daughter and little Hope were hungry.

“All right, Grace.” He looked to Laura. “Would you ladies like to join us for lunch?”

Grace pulled on Hope’s arms until she stood steadily on her feet. The two children looked up at Laura expectantly. Did she understand the children were waiting to go eat?

Laura grinned. “I see that I am outnumbered. We are going to go over to Miss Pearl’s for lunch. You and Grace are welcome to join us.” She picked up the ball of yarn Hope had been playing with and dropped it into her handbag. Then Laura scooped up Hope and swung the child on to her hip.

Grace tugged on his shirt. Clint lifted his daughter up and set her on his shoulders. “Then that sounds like a nice place for us to go, too. I’ve never eaten there. I usually do my business and get right back to the ranch.”

Mrs. Potter snorted. “Dinner is at six.” She left the room with her skirts swirling around her.

Clint followed Laura and Hope out the door. Why hadn’t Laura had lunch at the boardinghouse? Maybe the food wasn’t as good there as it was at Pearl’s.

He stepped into place beside Laura when she made room on the sidewalk for him. Grace giggled and chattered above his head. “She really is a talker, isn’t she?” Laura grinned up at Grace.

“That she is. I just wish I understood more of what she’s saying.” Clint patted the little girl’s leg. In return, she patted the top of his head.

Laura laughed.

Clint grinned. He had to admit that he’d not heard a woman’s rich laughter in a long time and to be honest, he’d missed the sound. His gaze moved about the town of Glory.

It was growing. Lumber and farmland were both plentiful, and men from all over were coming to Glory. The sound of hammers pounding a steady beat filled his ears as they passed the construction of the new hotel.

Laura stopped in front of the restaurant and opened the door for him to pass. He ducked low, so as not to hit Grace’s head. Once inside they were immediately greeted by a redheaded woman with green eyes and a rich Irish accent.

Clint pulled Grace from his shoulders and set her on the floor beside him. He held tight to the little girl’s hand and smiled at the lady. Grace chattered happily, probably telling him that this woman had an accent just like his housekeeper, Mrs. Murphy.

“Hello, Laura.” The woman reached out and touched Hope’s fine blond curls. “Who is this sweet little lamb?”

Laura’s lips tipped into a soft smile. “Pearl, I’d like you to meet Hope.”

“Hope?” Fine red eyebrows went up into the woman’s hairline. “Now that’s a pretty name.”

What was this? If Laura really was the schoolteacher, wouldn’t everyone know the child? Especially since this little girl was at least a year old? He’d assumed Hope was her daughter. Had he assumed wrong?

Chapter Three

Laura smiled at her friend. “Yes, Hope. I’ll tell you more about her tomorrow morning. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee and a sweet roll?”

Pearl looked to the handsome man standing beside Laura and nodded. “I would enjoy that.”

Confusion lined Clint’s forehead as he looked from her to Pearl. His gaze shifted to Hope and then back up to Laura. She sighed, knowing he had questions about the little girl who snuggled against her as if seeking assurance that she wasn’t going anywhere.

“If you two will follow me, I’ll get you a quiet corner in the back.” Pearl grabbed two menus and began leading the way.

Laura followed Pearl, aware that Clint and Grace followed her. She wondered how much Hope and Grace would understand when she explained Hope’s circumstances to the rancher.

Pearl stopped beside a small square table with four chairs and asked, “Is this all right?”

Clint nodded. He helped Grace into one of the chairs. Laura was aware of the muscles that worked across his shoulders as she helped Hope into her chair. She pulled her gaze away from him and focused on the place settings in front of her.

Pearl ran a respectable restaurant and made sure that each table had nice place settings. The linens were clean and the food always good.

Once they were seated, Pearl handed them menus. “Today’s special is roast beef sandwiches and fried potatoes. What can I get you to drink?”

Laura answered, “Hope and I will have milk, please.” She looked to Clint.

He grinned up at Pearl. “I’d like a hot cup of coffee for myself and a glass of milk for Grace.”

For the first time, Laura allowed herself to really examine him. His rich brown hair curled about his collar as if it had a mind of its own. The deep richness of his hair seemed to pull the bottomless blue from his eyes. He was muscular and lean. A working man.

Laura’s gaze moved to Pearl, who still stood beside their table. The other woman seemed captivated by the blue of his eyes, as well. She smiled like a schoolgirl at him. A soft pink filled her cheeks in just the few moments she’d been standing there.

Laura cleared her throat. “Hope and I will share the special. Can I substitute mashed potatoes with gravy for the fried potatoes?”

As if taken by surprise, Pearl jumped. “I’ll, uh, go get your drinks.”

Pearl hadn’t heard anything she’d said. Laura shook her head in amusement. Mr. Shepard was a nice-looking man, but personally she didn’t see him as a distraction.

Laura turned to make sure Hope was behaving. The little girl had decided to stand up in the chair and reach across the table to take Grace’s hands in hers. “No, sweetie. We do not stand in chairs.” Laura gently sat her back down. She handed Hope the ball of yarn from her handbag, then gave Grace a spoon that rested on a napkin beside her plate. The little girls immediately began to play with their items.

Clint chuckled. “You have a way with children, Mrs. Lee.”

“I’m a schoolteacher, Mr. Shepard. It’s my job to have a way with children.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.

Pearl returned with their drinks and a basket of bread. She placed each person’s drink in front of them and the bread in the center of the table. “I have your order going in the kitchen, Laura, but I seem to have forgotten to take yours, Mr.—?” She turned and smiled sweetly at Clint.

“Shepard. Grace and I will share the special also, but I’d like to add a steak to my order.” He smiled up at her, flashing white teeth in her direction.

Laura noticed a small gap in his front two teeth and thought it charming. She quickly turned her attention to the girls. Grace had decided to stand up in her chair and help herself to the bread. Laura took the bread from her and frowned. “Grace, sit down, please.”

Clint turned at the sharpness of her voice. He started to say something, but Laura stopped him with a stern look. If he wanted her to help him with the child, he’d have to let her do it her way. He turned back to Pearl. Grace was a handful, and because she’d never had a mother, he’d let her get away with much more than he probably should have. “I’d like that steak cooked medium well.”

Laura focused on Grace. When the little girl was seated once more, she tore the slice of bread in half and gave each of the girls their portion.

Grace babbled, “Tant too,” then tore into the bread with her tiny teeth.

Hope smiled and did the same.

“I’ll be right back with your orders,” Pearl stammered as she backed away from the table.

Laura giggled. Pearl was clearly smitten by Clint Shepard.

He turned and looked at her and the girls. “What is so funny?”

She leaned forward. “I do believe you have an admirer, Mr. Shepard.”

Clint frowned. “I’m not interested.”

Laura sat back and studied him. “Why not? Pearl is an attractive woman with her own business. Most men fall all over themselves for her attention.”

He shook his head. “I suppose I’m not most men.” He pulled the napkin off the table and tucked it into the front of his shirt.

“I suppose not.” She looked to where Pearl could be seen pouring coffee into one of the local lumbermen’s cups. The man looked as smitten with Pearl as she had with Clint.

“Mind if I ask you a question?” Clint asked, reaching for a slice of the bread.

Laura knew what he wanted to know. “Does it have anything to do with being Grace’s nanny?”

“Yes and no.” He bit off a chunk of the bread and chewed.

She smoothed her napkin on her lap and nodded.

Clint leaned across the table and asked in a very low voice, “Is Hope your daughter? Or not?”

Laura sighed. “Yes and no.”

He chuckled. “I see. Which is it?”

She took the note from her bag and handed it across the table. Laura watched his blue eyes scan the paper. He looked to her and quirked an eyebrow.

“As you can read, that paper says she is. I spoke to the sheriff this morning and he confirmed that she is mine, at least for the time being. He’s searching for her parents, and when the judge arrives next month, well, he’ll have the final say.” Laura held out her hand for the note. The last thing she wanted to do was lose that piece of paper. It was the only thing that proved Hope had been given to her.

Clint handed it over. Pearl walked back to the table with her arms laden with plates. Laura waited until the other woman left and asked, “Does this make a difference in your job offer?”

“No, if Matt thinks you are fit to take care of one little girl and the school board has placed the care of all the children in the community to you, who am I to say you aren’t fit to be a mother and a nanny?” He spooned potatoes onto Grace’s plate.

Laura smiled. “Thank you.” She prepared Hope’s plate. She prayed the circuit judge thought the same way as Clint Shepard.

“Does that mean you will take the job?” He cut the sandwich into four pieces and handed one of them to Grace.

“Maybe, but I still want to pray about it this afternoon before I decide, Mr. Shepard. I’m sure I will have an answer for you tonight or first thing in the morning.” Laura knew she needed to pray before making this important decision even though she felt comfortable with Clint Shepard and his daughter.

He nodded. “Speaking of prayer, how about I bless this food and let’s eat?”

She smiled. “That would be very nice, thank you.” Laura listened to his short blessing and knew that he was her answer from God. With the job Clint Shepard offered, she’d have enough money come summer to buy a small house for her and Hope to live in. If the judge let her keep Hope.

After lunch, Laura took Hope to the doctor. The little girl sat on Laura’s lap while Dr. Stewart shone a light into her ears. He whispered into her ears, first the left, then her right. She responded as long as he stayed on the right side of her. Laura watched, fascinated with Dr. McAlester’s manner of learning about the child’s hearing.

He stood and looked at Laura. “This little girl doesn’t hear with her left ear. Her right seems to be fine, but I think you’ll need to make sure that you are on her right side, if you want her to hear you.” He picked up a candle and tilted Hope’s head to the right so that he could see into the left.

Concern filled Laura. Could Hope function like any other child, when she could only hear with one ear? “What can we do? Is this something we can fix?”

Dr. McAlester shook his head. “I’m just a country doctor, not one of those fancy city docs with lots of new equipment, but from what I can see...” He bent down and shone a light into the little girl’s ear once more. “Her ear is grown up on the inside.” His gaze met Laura’s as he stood. “A city doctor might be willing to try going in and cutting that layer of skin, but I’m not.” He set the candle on the table beside him and sighed.

“I see.”

Dr. McAlester said, “She doesn’t seem to be in any pain and isn’t running a temperature. Mrs. Lee, I believe little Hope can have a long, good life with hearing in just one ear.” He grinned at her. “Us old folks do it all the time.” His light blue eyes and silver hair gave him a friendly look that set most of his patients at ease.

Shock at his words had Laura gasping, “You can’t hear with both ears?”

“’Fraid not. Gun went off too close to my ear a few years back, and I still have a ringing in it, but no other sound can get through. Haven’t you noticed I turn my head slightly to the left when I want to hear what you’re saying?”

She shook her head. “No, sir. I hadn’t.”

Dr. McAlester put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Little Hope will adapt, too. I believe this is a result of what we call a birth defect. She doesn’t even realize she can’t hear in one ear.” He patted Hope on the head. “You can always take her to the big city and let one of those doctors look at her.”

Laura stood. “Maybe when she’s older.” She didn’t tell him that she couldn’t make that decision right now. It wasn’t hers to make, at least not until the judge came to town and gave her that right. So many decisions would need to be made when that happened.

Laura returned to the boardinghouse with a heavy heart. She and Hope both weren’t complete. Hope couldn’t hear, and Laura couldn’t have children. Bitterly she thought, it was up to her to make a life for herself and the child. What man in his right mind would take her as a wife and Hope as a daughter?

* * *

Clint pulled the wagon to the front of the boardinghouse. Relief washed over him at the sight of Laura standing at the door. She hadn’t changed her mind. Several bags and a couple of large boxes rested about her feet, and if he wasn’t mistaken, that was a writing desk on the porch.

The night before, shortly after dinner, Laura had expressed her desire to take the job of being a nanny to little Grace, with the understanding that she’d only do so until school resumed. He’d assured her that he’d begin looking for another nanny when it got closer to time for her to leave.

Hope’s head rested on Laura’s shoulder, and the little girl grinned sweetly at him. His gaze traveled downward to his own child. Grace held Laura’s other hand tightly. The schoolteacher might be just what Grace needed in her life.

He leaped from the wagon. “Right on time, ladies.” Clint winked at Grace.

“You did say to be ready by eight, didn’t you?” Laura asked. Confusion laced her pretty features.

He picked up several of the bags. “I did. If you will get the girls in the wagon, I’ll load up these bags.” There weren’t as many as he’d expected. His wife, Martha, had always taken everything with them, even for the short trip to town. Clint pushed thoughts of Martha away and carried the bags to the wagon.